Your Car’s Arrived, Sir

It’s certainly time to trade in your entry-level sedan for a plusher ride

You’ve got the corner offi ce within sight, though you’re not there yet. But it’s certainly time to trade in your entry-level sedan for a plusher ride.

1.Toyota Camry Hybrid
This efficient urban commuter’s got three modes: EV, Eco and Normal. Below 40kph, you’re relying entirely on the 650V battery. In Eco mode, the car alternates between using power from the electric motor and the petrol engine to conserve fuel. But after hours, when you’re raring to go, shift to Normal to fully harness the power of the large 2,494cc beast of an engine and drive its 202 horses into a frenzied rage.

2.Volkswagen Passat
Its lithe frame is discreet and sexy, making it a car you’d want to drive, rather than be driven around in. We test drove the 2-litre 4-cylinder automatic variant and found that the upshifts come early and the downshifts are delayed – which makes it not only immensely easy to drive through start-stop traffic but also fuel-efficient due to the restrained gear changes. With voice command capabilities, it’s almost like driving with your secretary who’ll jot down notes and take care of the details. And, when you reach the offi ce and need to parallel park, just activate Park Assist and it’ll get the job done for you.

3.Volvo S60
This car isn’t just a good bet for anyone looking for a sedan with a solid build and an impeccable safety record. Consider this: You’re driving to work and, in that split second when you take your eyes off the road to change the radio station, an errant three-wheeler darts in front of you. Mercifully, you don’t rear end him – and that’s because the Volvo S60 has an inbuilt laser that detects any objects in your path and gauges your speed to determine if it’s an emergency situation. If you’re going too fast, it will pre-charge the brakes so that, when you hit them, their impact will be sharper and more immediate. #Baller

4.Škoda Octavia
The strapping car from the early Noughties is making a heroic comeback – with a refreshed grille and a cantilevered rear overhang. Sure, it lags when you go above second gear in traffi c but, gather some pace, and the 1.8-litre petrol engine (or 2-litre diesel variant) will surprise you. The power is pushed to the front wheels and keeps coming in waves as you make your way through the seven-speed gearbox and push the throttle as far as it will go. In other words, you don’t need your morning double espresso shot anymore.

5.Honda Accord
Looks matter. And that’s just one of the reasons to buy this saloon. It’s got fantastic road presence and is the longest and widest in this list. It has taken nearly four decades and eight generations to look this way – but with a low-slung wide fl at bonnet (think Honda City from the late Nineties) and a 2.4 litre engine that makes it as powerful as the marque’s flagship SUV, the CR-V, this new Accord defi nitely isn’t all face and no pants. It’s a hawkish sedan that looks, feels and drives like a beast. For the powerhungry go-getter who’s climbing – fast.